Shopping malls are not the place to be during the holidays -- and the food court could be the worst place of all. See more Christmas pictures.
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Whether or not the country's economic doldrums will curtail the holiday shopping season as dramatically as last year, shoppers can expect one thing to remain the same come November and December. Malls and shopping plazas will be busier than any other time of year. And one of the most congested areas for shoppers is the food court. It bottlenecks patrons into a crowded area and presents an array of traps that can take some of the fun out of shopping. Check out these five easy things you can do to buoy your mood, protect your pocketbook and save time.
